Online purchaes involving an exchange of non-negotiable credits with restrictions into entity independent negotiable funds without the restrictions

ABSTRACT

Non-negotiable credits can be identified that are from previous interactions with an entity. The previous interactions can earn the non-negotiable credits. A quantity of the non-negotiable credits can be converted to a quantity of negotiable funds. The converting can be performed by a different legal entity than the entity. Access to the quantity of negotiable funds can be permitted for purchases with at least one vender that does not honor the non-negotiable credits in absence of the converting of the non-negotiable credits into negotiable funds. The identifying, the converting, and the permitting can be performed by computing equipment having at least one processor executing program instructions that are digitally encoded in at least one storage device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/420,255 filed 25 May 2006 entitled “Web BasedConversion of Non-Negotiable Credits Associated with an Entity to EntityIndependent Negotiable Funds.” The entire contents of U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/420,255 are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to the field of fund conversions and,more particularly, to the conversion of non-negotiable credits tonegotiable funds.

Entities often reward consumers for utilizing their services withnon-negotiable credits, such as frequent flier miles, consumer loyaltypoints, and entertainment credits. These non-negotiable credits can beapplied towards products and/or services provided by a granting entityor its affiliates. For example, consumers can apply frequent flyercredits towards the purchase of airline tickets or airline upgrades. Inanother example, a consumer can utilize purchase points from a creditcard company to receive percentage discounts on goods provided byaffiliates. In still another example, entertainment credits can beredeemed for prizes offered in a winnings storefront of an entertainmentsite.

Many problems are inherent to the current techniques for the redemptionof entity provided credits. One such problem is the restriction on usageto goods and/or services of the entity. That is, a consumer may have noneed for the products or services listed by the entity for which thenon-negotiable credits can be redeemed. Further, additional restrictionsand limitations can be placed upon the non-negotiable credits thatlessen the usefulness of non-negotiable credits from the consumer'sperspective. For instance, airlines often limit the choice of traveldates, known as black-out dates, to which frequent flyer credits can beapplied.

Another problem encountered by consumers when redeeming non-negotiablecredits is time. Once a consumer submits a request to redeem theirnon-negotiable credits, the consumer must wait for the entity to performone or more actions required to fulfill their request. These steps oftenrequire days or weeks to complete. For instance, consumers participatingin online entertainment sites often are required to wait a minimum ofthree days for their entertainment credits to be redeemed. Redemptiondelay can be particularly aggravating to e-commerce consumers, who bynature of an e-commerce marketplace expect rapid responses and immediateconsumer gratification.

Time can also be a factor for redeeming credits having an associatedexpiration date. A consumer's non-negotiable credits may expire before asufficient quantity is acquired for a desired purchase. Lesser purchasesrequiring fewer credits may not have a significant appeal for theconsumer. Hence, credit expiration dates can further decrease theconsumer value of non-negotiable credits.

Yet another problem with conventional implementation of non-negotiablecredits is that consumers often belong to multiple credit-earningprograms that provide the consumers with multiple incompatible forms ofnon-negotiable credit. Each of these multiple programs can span a singleindustry or can span multiple industries. For example, a consumer canacquire a moderate number of frequent flyer miles with multipleairlines, where each airline specific account contains insufficientcredits to have any meaningful consumer value. Consumers can also havemany different types of non-negotiable credits, such as multiplemerchant specific credit, credit card credits, and frequent flier miles,each having different redemption values and program redemption rules.These different programs, values, and rules can understandably confuseand frustrate consumers, who due to their confusion, often elect toavoid participating in an entity sponsored credit program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a Web based conversion ofnon-negotiable credits associated with an entity to entity independentfunds system in accordance with an embodiment of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of successive GUIs that illustrate the Webbased conversion of non-negotiable credits associated with an entity toentity independent funds system in accordance with an embodiment of theinventive arrangements disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for the Web based conversion ofnon-negotiable credits associated with an entity to entity independentfunds system in accordance with an embodiment of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure permits consumers to transform non-negotiablecredits provided by an entity to negotiable funds in an approximatelyimmediate fashion using the Web. More specifically, a conversion agencycan function as an intermediary that converts entity provided creditsinto entity independent funds. The conversion agency can be anindependent entity that is not directly affiliated with the creditproviding entities.

The conversion can occur automatically using a Web initiated action andcan have approximately immediate results. Approximately immediate asused herein can signify that a transaction can occur within a single Websession with user acceptable delay tolerances, typically under half anhour and often under a few minutes. In one embodiment, credits can beautomatically converted to funds as part of an e-commerce checkout. Inanother embodiment, credits can be converted into a user accessibleaccount held with a financial institution.

The present disclosure can be implemented in accordance with numerousaspects consistent with material presented herein. For example, oneaspect of the present disclosure can include a method for convertingcredits to funds. The method can include a step of a Web site receivinguser identification information. Non-negotiable credits can beidentified that are associated with an entity with which the user haspreviously interacted. The previous interactions could have earned thenon-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversionagency can convert a quantity of the non-negotiable credits into aquantity of negotiable funds. The conversion agency can be an agency notdirectly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to accessthe quantity of negotiable funds. The quantity of negotiable funds canbe applied to user specified purchases. At least a portion of thepurchases can involve at least one vender that does not honor thenon-negotiable credits.

Another aspect of the present disclosure can include a software methodfor converting non-negotiable credits into negotiable funds. The methodcan receive a user request to convert a quantity of non-negotiablecredits held in a user account associated with an entity. A conversionrate between the non-negotiable credits available to the user and a formof negotiable funds can be automatically determined. A quantity ofnon-negotiable credits can be automatically subtracted from the useraccount. A quantity of the negotiable funds based upon the determinedconversion rate and quantity of subtracted funds can be automaticallytransferred to a financial account. The financial account can be anaccount that is not associated with the entity. The entire method canoccur in an approximately immediate fashion.

Still another aspect of the present disclosure can include a Web-basedcredit to fund conversion system. The system can include anon-negotiable credit account, a negotiable funds account, and aconversion agency. The non-negotiable credit account can be associatedwith an entity. Non-negotiable credits contained within thenon-negotiable credit account can be earned though previous interactionsbetween a user and the entity. The negotiable funds account can includenegotiable funds that the user is able to apply to user specifiede-commerce purchases. One or more venders involved in the e-commercepurchases can be venders that do not honor the non-negotiable creditsfor the e-commerce purchases. The conversion agency can automaticallyand approximately immediately convert a quantity of credits from thenon-negotiable credit account to a quantity of funds in the negotiablefunds account responsive to a request from the user.

It should be noted that various aspects of the disclosure can beimplemented as a program for controlling computing equipment toimplement the functions described herein, or a program for enablingcomputing equipment to perform processes corresponding to the stepsdisclosed herein. This program may be provided by storing the program ina magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or any otherrecording medium. The program can also be provided as a digitallyencoded signal conveyed via a carrier wave. The described program can bea single program or can be implemented as multiple subprograms, each ofwhich interact within a single computing device or interact in adistributed fashion across a network space.

It should also be noted that the methods detailed herein can also bemethods performed at least in part by a service agent and/or a machinemanipulated by a service agent in response to a service request.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a Web based conversion ofnon-negotiable credits associated with an entity to entity independentfunds system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein. System 100 includes consumer 105 andconversion agency server 130.

Consumer 105 interacts with conversion agency server 130 via client 110.Client 110 can be any of a variety of interfaces including, but notlimited to, another human being, a personal computer, a kiosk, agraphical user interface (GUI), a Web page, a telephone, a personal dataassistant (PDA), a mobile phone, and the like.

Client 110 can operate in a stand-alone fashion. Alternatively, client110 can be a device that cooperatively participates in a network ofdistributed computing devices. Client 110 can also be another humanbeing utilizing an alternate form of Client 110 to access conversionagency server 130 via network 115. Network 115 can facilitate dataexchanges over wireless as well as line-based communication pathways andprotocols.

Both consumer 105 and conversion agency server 130 can interact withassociate server 150, e-commerce server 120, and financial institutionserver 140 via network 115. Conversion agency server 130 includes useraccount data store 135 in which consumer 105 is a member. Associateserver 150 includes customer data store 155 in which consumer 105 is amember. Financial institution server 140 includes account data store142. Account data store 142 includes conversion agency account 144corresponding to conversion agency 130.

Consumer 105 earns non-negotiable credits from associate server 150. Thequantity of these non-negotiable credits is saved in customer data store155. The method in which consumer 105 earns credits can be any of avariety of activities including, but not limited to, making onlinepurchases, making in-store purchases, playing online games,participating in online games of chance, participating in surveys, andthe like. Consumer 105 uses conversion agency server 130 to convert thenon-negotiable credits from associate server 150 into negotiable fundsprovided by e-commerce server 120 or financial institution 140. In oneembodiment, conversion agency 130 can include multiple reward accountsof consumer 105.

For example, consumer 105 earns five hundred credits from participatingin an online game of chance hosted by associate server 150. Consumer 105can choose to use conversion agency 130 to convert any or all of thesecredits to a monetary equivalent. Conversion agency 130 withdraws thenecessary amount from conversion agency account 144 contained within theaccount data store 142 of financial institution 140 and transfers it toan account specified by consumer 105. In another example, consumer 105uses conversion agency 130 to complete a purchase at e-commerce server120. Again, conversion agency 130 withdraws the necessary amount fromconversion agency account 144 contained within the account data store142 of financial institution 140 and transfers it to the account ofe-commerce server 120.

E-commerce server 120 can be any Web site that supports online purchasesof goods or services. In one embodiment, e-commerce server 120 caninclude a distinct payment option for conversion agency 130. Thisdistinct payment option could process the conversion of credits throughtheir Web site. Alternatively, the distinct payment option could launchan application to process the conversion of credit that is separate fromtheir Web site. In another embodiment, associate server 150 can act ase-commerce server 120.

Financial institution server 140 can be any of a variety of entitiesincluding, but not limited to, a bank, a credit card company, aninvestment firm, and the like. In one embodiment, financial institutionserver 140 can reside in the same country as consumer 105 and/orassociate server 150. In another embodiment, financial institutionserver 140 can reside in a country other than that of consumer 105and/or associate server 150.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of successive GUIs that illustrate the Webbased conversion of non-negotiable credits associated with an entity toentity independent funds system 200 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe inventive arrangements disclosed herein.

GUI 210 can be a checkout window from any e-commerce site. GUI 210includes payment button 215. Payment button 215 can represent a paymentoption that includes the conversion of non-negotiable credits topurchase the items in the shopping cart. Selection of payment button 215by a user can produce GUI 220.

GUI 220 can be a display window from a conversion agency. GUI 220includes display box 222 and button 225. GUI 220 can be rendered by anyof a variety of means including, but not limited to, a Web browser, aJAVA applet, a PERL script, and the like. In one embodiment, GUI 220 canbe contained within the e-commerce site. GUI 220 can display the balanceof non-negotiable credits from one or more reward programs. GUI 220contains a means by which the user selects the type of non-negotiablecredits to convert including, but not limited to, a set of radiobuttons, a set of checkboxes, a highlighting mechanism, and the like.Display box 222 can display the monetary value of the selectednon-negotiable credits. The value displayed in display box 222 can bebased on preset conversion factors. Button 225 can represent theinitiation of the process by which the selected non-negotiable creditsare converted to negotiable funds. Selection of button 225 by a user canproduce GUI 230.

GUI 230 can be a display window from a conversion agency. GUI 230includes yes button 232 and cancel button 233. GUI 230 can be renderedby any of a variety of means including, but not limited to, a Webbrowser, a JAVA applet, a PERL script, and the like. In one embodiment,GUI 230 can be contained within the e-commerce site. GUI 230 can displaya summary message of the transaction initiated by GUI 220. GUI 230 caninclude a means to continue the transaction, yes button 232, and a meansto cancel the transaction, cancel button 233. Selection of cancel button233 by a user cancels the transaction and can return the user to GUI220. Selection of yes button 232 by a user completes the transactioninitiated in GUI 220 and can produce GUI 240.

GUI 240 can be a display window from the same said e-commerce site. GUI240 can contain a message acknowledging the successful conversion of theuser's non-negotiable credits into negotiable funds for the purchase ofthe items in the shopping cart.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method 300 for the Web based conversion ofnon-negotiable credits associated with an entity to entity independentfunds system in accordance with an embodiment of the inventivearrangements disclosed herein.

Method 300 can begin in step 305, where a consumer logs onto a rewardsWeb site. In step 310, the rewards Web site utilizes the userinformation provided in step 305 to access the consumer's accountinformation and display the amount of non-negotiable credits in theconsumer's account. The consumer elects to redeem some quantity ofnon-negotiable credits in step 315. If supported by the rewards Website, step 320 can occur in which the consumer can select the form ofnegotiable funds to convert the non-negotiable credits. In step 325, aratio is determined for the conversion of the non-negotiable credits tothe selected type of negotiable funds. This ratio can be determined byany of a variety of means including, but not limited to, an algorithminternal to the rewards Web site, an algorithm contained in a systemthat is remote and/or independent of the rewards Web site, and the like.An electronic commerce transaction is initiated in step 330 to establishthe converted amount of negotiable funds in a user account. The quantityof converted non-negotiable credits is subtracted from the user'saccount in step 335. In step 340, the rewards Web site presents theconsumer with an access means for the negotiable funds. Lastly, theconsumer terminates the session by logging off the rewards Web site instep 345.

The present disclosure may be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. The present disclosure may berealized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or in adistributed fashion where different elements are spread across severalinterconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or otherapparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein issuited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a generalpurpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loadedand executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out themethods described herein.

The present disclosure also may be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

This disclosure may be embodied in other forms without departing fromthe spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, referenceshould be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoingspecification, as indicating the scope of the disclosure.

1. A method comprising: computing equipment, having at least oneprocessor executing program instructions that are digitally encoded inat least one storage device, determining a quantity of user-earnednon-negotiable credits, which are earned from previous interactions withan entity, said non-negotiable credits having restrictions on use;computing equipment, having at least one processor executing programinstructions that are digitally encoded in at least one storage device,identifying a cost of the one or more goods or services for an onlinepurchase; computing equipment, having at least one processor executingprogram instructions that are digitally encoded in at least one storagedevice, receiving a customer election to redeem at least a portion ofthe quantity of non-negotiable credits towards the online purchase,wherein said restrictions on use prevent the non-negotiable credits frombeing directly applied to the online purchase; computing equipment,having at least one processor executing program instructions that aredigitally encoded in at least one storage device, identifying a ratiofor converting the non-negotiable credits into entity independent funds,said entity independent funds not having said restrictions on use forthe online purchase; and computing equipment, having at least oneprocessor executing program instructions that are digitally encoded inat least one storage device, applying the entity independent funds tothe online purchase, where a quantity of the entity independent fundsare subtracted from the cost of the online purchase, wherein thenon-negotiable credits are expended in accordance with the ratio as aresult of the online purchase or as a result of converting thenon-negotiable credits into the entity independent funds.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein a conversion agency converts the non-negotiablecredits into the entity independent funds.
 3. The method of claim 2,where the conversion agency is an independent entity that is notdirectly affiliated with said entity from which the non-negotiablecredits are earned.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein saidnon-negotiable credits are earned from playing one or more online games.5. The method of claim 1, wherein said non-negotiable credits are earnedfrom participating in surveys.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein saidnon-negotiable credits are earned from one or more consumers makingprevious in-store purchases of goods or services.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein said non-negotiable credits are earned from playing a game ofchance.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the online purchase is for apurchase of the one or more goods or of the one or more services thathave been placed in a shopping cart of an e-commerce Web site throughwhich the online purchase is conducted.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the online purchase is made through a checkout window of a Website having a payment option, wherein said payment option permits a userof the Web site to convert a quantity of the non-negotiable credits forthe online purchase.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said entityindependent funds are negotiable funds.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein said entity independent funds comprise a quantity of UnitedStates dollars.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the online purchaseoccurs through an e-commerce Web site, wherein the e-commerce Web sitedisplays a quantity of available non-negotiable credits having therestrictions on use that are available to be converted into the entityindependent funds, and wherein the e-commerce Web site displays theratio for converting the non-negotiable credits into entity independentfunds.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said restrictions on usecomprise an expiration date on the non-negotiable credits.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a vender is compensated in negotiable fundsfor the one or more goods or one or more services provided to a consumerfor the online purchase, said negotiable funds with which the vender iscompensated being paid for by the entity in exchange for thenon-negotiable credits.
 15. A method comprising: computing equipment,having at least one processor executing program instructions that aredigitally encoded in at least one storage device, granting a quantity ofuser-earned non-negotiable credits, which are earned from previousinteractions with an entity, wherein said non-negotiable credits haverestrictions on use, wherein said restrictions on use prevent thenon-negotiable credits from being directly applied for an onlinepurchase of at least one goods or services of a commerce partner, saidcommerce partner being an independent entity from said entity; andcomputing equipment, having at least one processor executing programinstructions that are digitally encoded in at least one storage device,subtracting a quantity of the non-negotiable credits in response to theonline purchase of the goods or services, said online purchase costing aquantity of entity independent funds, said entity independent fundsresulting from a conversion of the subtracted quantity of non-negotiablecredits into the entity independent funds in accordance with a credit tofund conversion ratio, wherein said entity provides compensation for thesubtracted quantity of the non-negotiable credits, wherein said commercepartner receives at least a portion of said compensation.
 16. The methodof claim 15, wherein said compensation is in negotiable funds.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, wherein a conversion agency converts thenon-negotiable credits into the entity independent funds.
 18. The methodof claim 17, where the conversion agency is an independent entity thatis not directly affiliated with said entity from which thenon-negotiable credits are earned.
 19. The method of claim 15, whereinsaid non-negotiable credits are earned from playing one or more onlinegames.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein said non-negotiable creditsare earned from participating in surveys.
 21. The method of claim 15,wherein said non-negotiable credits are earned from one or moreconsumers making previous in-store purchases of goods or services. 22.The method of claim 15, wherein said non-negotiable credits are earnedfrom playing a game of chance.
 23. The method of claim 15, wherein theonline purchase is for a purchase of the one or more goods or of the oneor more services that have been placed in a shopping cart of ane-commerce Web site through which the online purchase is conducted. 24.The method of claim 15, wherein the online purchase occurs through ane-commerce Web site, wherein the e-commerce Web site displays a quantityof available non-negotiable credits having the restrictions on use thatare available to be converted into the entity independent funds, andwherein the e-commerce Web site displays the ratio for converting thenon-negotiable credits into entity independent funds.
 25. A methodcomprising: providing, via computing equipment having at least oneprocessor executing program instructions that are stored in at least onestorage medium, an online storefront through which a set of one or moreconsumers conduct a commerce transaction; detecting, via computingequipment having at least one processor executing program instructionsthat are stored in at least one storage medium, one or more selectionsby at least one of the one or more consumers for one or more goods orservices provided by the online storefront, said one or more goods orservices being owned or provided by a commerce partner; initiating, viacomputing equipment having at least one processor executing programinstructions that are stored in at least one storage medium, a check-outprocess for the one or more selections from the online storefront;determining, via computing equipment having at least one processorexecuting program instructions that are stored in at least one storagemedium, a cost in negotiable funds for the one or more selections; anddiscounting, via computing equipment having at least one processorexecuting program instructions that are stored in at least one storagemedium, the cost in negotiable funds of the one or more selections fromthe online storefront by an amount in negotiable funds, said amountresulting from a quantity of non-negotiable credits being converted inaccordance with a conversion rate of credits-to-funds, wherein saidnon-negotiable credits are earned from previous interactions with anentity, wherein said entity is a different legal entity from saidcommerce partner, wherein said commerce partner receives the quantity ofnegotiable funds for the one or more goods or services.
 26. The methodof claim 25, wherein the non-negotiable credits are credits for playingan online game, wherein said commerce partner does not provide theonline game.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the non-negotiablecredits are credits earned by playing an online game, wherein saidcommerce partner does not provide the online game.
 28. The method ofclaim 25, wherein said entity does not provide the online storefront.29. The method of claim 25, wherein said commerce partner provides theonline storefront.
 30. The method of claim 25, wherein said at least onegood or service of the commerce partner is able to be presented on acomputing device of an end-user, said end-user earning thenon-negotiable credits from the entity through previous interactionsconducted via the computing device of the end-user.